Retiring Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) Executive Director Tom Menzel has submitted an application to be the next administrator of Grand Traverse County.

Menzel has been working for the county on a consulting basis since early July under a $1-per-month contract, providing communication and organizational advice in the absence of a full-time administrator. Several commissioners - including Dr. Dan Lathrop, who sits on the BATA board of directors - have expressed interest in leveraging Menzel's past experience with results-based budgeting to help the county transition to its new budget process. While Menzel has consistently been rumored to be the board's preferred pick to next lead the county - former administrator Dave Benda told The Ticker in April he heard "several" reports Menzel was being pursued - Menzel has publicly stated and reiterated Monday that he would not leave BATA "until they have my replacement there."

"I don't know when that would happen - I would hope before too long," he tells The Ticker. "And I would like at least two weeks to work with (the replacement) on transition issues. Although, if it's an internal candidate, that might not be as necessary." 

Menzel says he became interested in the position of county administrator because "in a consultant's role you recommend, and you don't have any organizational authority to get things done. There reaches a point you need to implement change, and that takes someone in a position of authority." He said his consulting work with the county has given him "a pretty good look at the organization, and helped me see what they needed and what I can do to help them." The county's August 25 application deadline also sped up his decision to apply, he said.

As part of his consutling work, Menzel helped craft the recently revised job description of county administrator. He also worked closely with staff and commissioners on several internal issues, including finance reviews, and participated in meetings with county HR contractor Paula Sagala. When asked whether that arrangement gave him an unfair advantage over other candidates applying for county administrator, Menzel acknowledged commissioners' familiarity with him was likely to "increase their comfort level one way or another."

"But I think my resume stands up either way," says Menzel. "I understand the culture. It would be an advanage in that I'd be able to hit the ground running. There has to be a chemistry with the board. They have to trust you, and they have to give you the authority and backing to get things done."